Prefabricated house structure



May 22, 1951 H. c. MORTENSON PREFABRICATED HOUSE STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17, 1945 INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 22, 1951 H. c. MORTENSON PREFABRICATED HOUSE STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 17, 1946 Henry DMnrt 5115mm ATTORNEY May 22, 1951 H. c. MORTENSON PREFABRICATED HOUSE STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 55 Filed May 17, 1946 INVENTOR E-Mnr[ens 1:111

ATTORNEY Patented May 22, 1951 PREFABRICA'TED HOUSE STRUCTURE Henry C. Mortenson, Silver Spring, Md., assignor to U-Build Corporation, Washington, D. 0., a

corporation of Delaware Application May 17, 1946, Serial No. 670,578

E} 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a prefabricated house structure.

The object of the invention is to provide a series of metal structural-elements which may be utilized in framing a house, such elements being adapted for use as studs, floor joists, rafters and braces, the elements interfitting to be interlocked as the building of the framework progresses.

The various elements are so constructed that unskilled labor can be employed in the erection of the building, the parts being so fashioned and arranged as to be interlocked as the building progresses.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a, sectional view of a portion .of a building framed according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the essential units for framing a house, the parts being separated.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the units separated but more closely related in assembling form.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of one of the beam units and its braces.

Figure 5 is a detail section of the parts shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail section similar to Figure 5 but taken through one of the main braces.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the lower plate and the lower end of a beam unit.

Figure 8 is a section view on the line 8--B of Figure 7, but showing the panels in place.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view of one of the beam unit braces illustrating its position when applying the brace.

Figure 10 is a similar view but showing the position of the brace forced into the beam until the portion is at right angles to the flanges.

Figure ll is a similar view but showing the brace forced over beyond a center line between the flanges to become locked in place by friction.

Figure 12 shows details of the roof connection.

In order to understand the specific construction, each individual unit or element will be described.

The beams I, used as studding, floor supports and rafters, are substantially alike with the exception of minor changes, and a general description of one will suflice for all.

Each beam unit comprises an I-beam, including end flanges 2 and 3 and a connecting web 4, the flange 3 having its ends turned inwardly parallel with the web to formflanges 5. The

2 lower ends of certain of the I-beams l are pro vided with lugs 6 formed with openings 1. Similar lug-s 8 with openings 9 extend from the upper end of certain of the I-beams I, used for studding. The flanges 5 are provided with notches l6 and adjacent lugs II to cooperate with other beam units to be described.

If the I-beam units are used to support an inclined roof, their upper ends will be cut at an angle and correspondingly the beams used for rafters will have their ends cut at an angle, as shown in Figure l. I

Main brace members are designated at l2. Each-of these braces comprises a central web I3 and spaced flanges I4, l5, l6 and I1, forming two parallel channels If! and I9. The end corner portions of the web and the two outer flanges l4 and: I! of the main brace are cut away to form a central projection 20, and in the edge of one of the lower flanges of the projection are notches 2|.

Cooperating with the beam units and the main braces are auxiliary braces of two types, and for the purpose of clarity, I will designate one type as beam braces Zia, and the other type as panel braces 22.

Each beam brace consists of a body portion 23 and end flanges 24 and 25. The brace is substantially of Z-form in cross section, and in some degree is resilient. The flanges 24 and 25 incline away from the body portion, the flange 24 being flat from the body portion 23 to its end, while the flange 25 and a portion of the body portion is curved, as at 26.

The panel braces are substantially the same as the beam braces, except they are not as resilient as the beam braces, and each has near its ends a notch 43.

A sill plate 32 is provided for supporting the beam units and is of channel section with side flanges 33. and 34. A series of short ribs 30 extend perpendicularly from the flange 33 to form channels 3|, spaced apart transverse of the plate and spaced apart longitudinally to form seats 32a for the beam units. The seats are provided with slots 32b to receive the lugs 6 when assembling the parts, as will be later explained. The other flange 34 of the plate forms a brace.

In framing a house, a sill plate '32 is horizontally disposed with its channel opening to one side and with its flange v3t mounted on a foundation or pillars 36, and floor beam units I are horizontally mounted over the plate flange 34 and pillars. Then I-bea-m units are vertically positioned; over the seats 32a,- and the lugs 6 the main braces in locked position.

thererof are passed through the slots 32?) and through slots 40 in said horizontal beams, and bolts secure the respective lugs 6 to the respective webs 4 of the horizontal beams. Panels 4| and 4| are seated in the channels SI of the sill plate flange 33 and the sides of the outer panels within and are fitted against the flanges 2 of adjacent beam units. The inner panels 4| cover the inner flanges 3 of the vertical beam units, as shown in Figure 3. When the outer panels M are put in place, beam braces are inserted in the vertical beam units I. These braces are positioned at an angle to the beam when assembling them, as shown in Figure 9. Then whenpressure is applied, the rounded or long flange 25 yields until the body 23 is forced past a line drawn through the two flanges 24 and 25 (Figure 10), and because of the resilient metal and the fact that the distance between the two flanges 24 and 25 is greater than the distance between the n flanges 2 and 3 of the I-beam, and the adjacent panel is less than the length of the body 23, the braces frictionally become looked in position and effectively hold the outer panels in place, see Figure 11. After the first set of beam braces are locked in position, panel braces are assembled above the beam braces, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. The panel braces have notches 43 at their end portions to cooperate with the notches I0 andlugs II to form an interlock. The ends of ter with the notches l0 and the flange 24 lies behind the lugs ll, thus forming a lock between the braces and the beams. These panel braces when assembled between the spaced panels simply brace the panels to provide a steady structure. After the panel braces are positioned, then beam braces are inserted in the vertical beam units and are supported on or rest on the panel braces, as shown in Figures 1 and 4.

When several beam and panel braces are assembled, then, main brace units I 2 are put in place. The projections 20 of the main braces are fitted in the channels of the vertical beam units until the notches 2| register with the notches in, and thus form interlocking connections.

When a main brace is positioned, other beam braces are fitted in the vertical beams to confine The lower channels of the main braces receive the upper edges of the panels so that each outer panel is secured at its ends and top and bottom, while the inner panel is secured at the top and bottom and overlaps the inner face of the beams. The panels, however, are not only confined but they are braced by the panel braces between the main braces.

The horizontal floor beam units I are substantially of the same construction as the vertical beam units, except they do not have the end lugs 6 or 8. They are provided with notches l0 and H and receive and support main braces l2, between which beam braces 2m and panel braces 22 are interposed, as described in connection with the vertical stud beam units I. Then to complete the floor, concrete is filled in between the beams and braces.

The roof beam units or rafters are exactly the same construction as the vertical stud beam units, except the lugs 6 or 8 are omitted at their ends, and said ends are out at an angle.

Rafter beam units rest on top of the vertical stud beam units and are interlocked therewith by the upper lugs and slots. On top of thfi Outer stud beam unit I is an upper plate 44 having a flange 45 to fit up against the end surface of the rafter beam units and an inner flange 45a to flt over the top of the vertical stud beam units, the plate having slots through which the lugs 8 pass.

The rafter beams support a roof 46 of any suitable material, and over the outer end portion of the roof is a protecting plate 41, having a turned-down flange 48 which overlaps the flange 45 to seal the structure against water.

What I claim is:

1. A building structure, comprising, in combination, parallel I-beams, each including spaced parallel flanges connected centrally by a web, one of the flanges of each beam being fiat and the other flange having inturned edges, and a bayonet 'slot in each of said inturned edges, a wall panel positioned between said I-beams with its edge portions against the inner sides of the flat flanges of said beams, and a brace extending between the adjacent sides of said I-beams and with its ends fitting within the channels of said I-beams and between said inturned edge flanges thereof and the inner side of said panel, said brace having spaced parallel flanges fitting respectively in said bayonet slots against the inner sides of said inturned edge flanges and against the inner side of said panel to hold the latter in position, said bayonet slot fitting brace flange having a, notch adjacent each end for respectively straddling the inturned edge at the end of the bayonet slot to form an interlock between said I-beams and said brace.

2. A building structure asset forth in claim 1, wherein said brace comprises a third flange parallel with said two flanges'and centrally connected therewith by a web, said third flange being spaced from said panel engaging flange by the thickness of the panel and adapted for engaging the outside of said panel, said latter-mentioned flanges and. web forming a channel for embracing the edge portions of said panel, said third flange terminating short of the ends of said brace to accommodate and lie co-planar with said I- beam flat flanges.

3. A building structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein a second panel is positioned against the outsides of said inturned edge flanges of said I-beams to form a double walled structure, and said brace comprises a fourth flange parallel with the other flanges and spaced from said beam locking flange to form therewith and with said web a channel for embracing the edge portions of said second panel.

4. A building structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein a second panel is positioned against the outsides of said inturned edge flanges of said I-beams to form a double walled structure, and said brace comprises an outer flange parallel with said two flanges and spaced from said beam locking flange, said flanges being centrally connected by a web, said outer flange, beam locking flange and connecting web forming a channel for straddling and embracing the edge portions of said second panel.

5. A building structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein Z-shaped clips are nested within said I-beams between the edge portions of said panel and said inturned edge flanges on opposite sides of said brace to lock said brace in place.

6. A building structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein Z-shaped clips are nested within said I-beams between the edge portions of said panel and said inturned edge flanges on opposite sides of said brag? to lock said brace in place, one

bend of each of said clips fitting in the angle of said inturned edge with the adjacent clip arm positioned against the beam flange proper, the other bend of each clip fitting in the angle between said panel and said beam web with the adjacent clip arm positioned against the inner side of said panel, said latter bend having a greater angle than that in which it is finally positioned and supporting the adjacent arm under compression against said panel to clamp the panel in place and frictionally retain each clip in position.

I 7. A building structure, comprising, in combination, parallel I-beams, each including spaced parallel flanges connected centrally by a web, one of the flanges of each beam :being flat and the other flange having inturned edges, and a plurality of bayonet slots spaced along each of the inturned edges, a plurality of wall panels positioned between said I-beams, one above the other, with their edge portions against the inner sides of said flat flanges, a main brace extending between the adjacent sides of said I-beams and with its ends fitting within the channels of said beams and between said inturned edge flanges and said panels, said main brace including three spaced parallel flanges connected centrally by a web, one of said brace flanges fitting in bayonet slots which are positioned insaid inturned edges at the edge abutment of said panels, said latter flange having a notch adjacent each end for straddling the respective inturned edge at the end of the bayonet slot to form an interlock between said I-beams and said brace, the other two 0! said flanges with their connecting web portion forming oppositely disposed channels for embracing the abutting edge portions of said panels with the web between the panel edges, the outer of said channel forming flanges terminating short of the ends of said main brace to accommodate and lie co-planar with said beam flat flanges, and auxiliary braces extending between the adjacent sides of said I-beams and with their ends fitting within the channels of said beams and between the inturned edge flanges and said panels, said auxiliary braces having spaced parallel flanges fitting respectively against the inner sides of said panels intermediate their edges and in said bayonet slots against the inner sides of said inturned edge flanges, said bayonet slot fitting flanges having a notch adjacent each end for straddling the respective inturned edge at the end of the slot to form an interlock between said I-beams and said auxiliary braces.

HENRY C. MORTENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,101,745 Jones June 30, 1914 1,194,320 Pucillo Aug. 8, 1916 2,037,889 Doud Apr. 21, 1936 2,124,355 Plym July 19, 1938 2,316,668 Bronner Apr. 13, 1943 2,398,153 Nielsen Apr. 9, 1946 

